Deep water operating and servicing system for operating and servicing marine wells

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed towards an underwater well operating and servicing module and a coupling assembly which can be connected to a number of underwater wells and which is also capable of sustaining human life within for repair and inspection. The module is shaped as an upright cylindrical shell which reduces abruptly to a smaller diameter providing a substantially horizontal ledge surface when the module is in position on the ocean bottom. A number of wells are positioned around the module at approximately equal radial distances. A flexible coupling assembly having both ends thereof directed downwards is secured by means of detachable connectors between the well and the module. Each of the connectors are guided to their respective receptacles at the well and module by means of guidelines and guidepins projecting upwards from the well and module to a surface vessel. The weight of the coupling assembly forces the connectors into position at their respective receptacles and they are then locked into position by hydraulic or electric means controlled from either within the module or from the surface vessel. Tools for servicing the particular well to which the coupling assembly has been attached are then inserted into the coupling assembly from within the module and from there into the well itself. This operation is usually performed at equal time intervals automatically.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Walter Brown Long Beach; Warren S.Messenger, Canoga Park, both of, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 717,761 [22]Filed Apr. 1, 1968 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 I73] Assignee NorthAmerican Rockwell Corporation [54] DEEP WATER OPERATING AND SERVICHNGSYSTEM FOR OPERATING AND SERVICING MARINE WELLS 16 Claims, 6 DrawingFigs.

[52] 11.5. C1 166/.6, 166/75 [51] Int. Cl ..E21b 33/1133 [50] FieldofSearch 166/5, .6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,111,692 11/1963 Cox 166/.5X 3,326,285 6/1967 Coberly. 166/.6 3,331,437 7/1967 Jones 166/.63,353,364 11/1967 Blanding et al. 166/.5 X 3,363,683 1/1968 Corley et a1166/,5 3,366,173 l/1968 Mclntosh 166/.5 3,380,520 '4/1968 Pease 166/.53,391,734 7/1968 Towsend 166/.5 3,419,071 12/1968 Williams et al. 166/.6

I swam 3,421,579 H1969 Manning ABSTRACT: The invention is directedtowards an underwater well operating and servicing module and a couplingassembly which can be connected to a number of underwater wells andwhich is also capable of sustaining human life within for repair andinspection. The module is shaped as an upright cylindrical shell whichreduces abruptly to a smaller diameter providing a substantiallyhorizontal ledge surface when the module is in position on the oceanbottom. A number of wells are positioned around the module atapproximately equal radial distances. A flexible coupling assemblyhaving both ends thereof directed downwards is secured by means ofdetachable connectors between the well and the module. Each of theconnectors are guided to their respective receptacles at the well andmodule by means of guidelines and guidepins projecting upwards from thewell and module to a surface vessel. The weight of the coupling assemblyforces the connectors into position at their respective receptacles andthey are then looked into position by hydraulic or electric meanscontrolled from either within the module or from the surface vessel.Tools for servicing the particular well to which the coupling assemblyhas been attached are then inserted into the coupling assembly fromwithin the module and from there into the well itself. This operation isusually performed at equal time intervals automatically.

PATENTEDJUM29|97| 3589.441

SHEET 1 BF 4 INVENTORS WALTER BRO N WARREN S. ESSENGER d ZZ MQ M) AORPEY PATENTED JUN29l97| 3,589,441

sum 3 0F 4 8 v g :5 g Q INVIJNTORS Q WALTER BROWN BYWARREN S. MESSENGERr- =r 1 2; A RNEY PATENTED JUN29 19?! 3,589,441

sum u [1F 4 INWL'NH RS WALTER BROWN WARREN S. MESSENGER 60k M. %VM

DEEP WATER OPERATING AND SERVICING SYSTEM FOR OPERATING AND SERVICINGMARINE WELLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to thefield of oil or gas well operating and servicing modules and, moreparticularly, to a deep water servicing station for servicing aplurality of oil or gas wells without the frequent use of surfacevessels.

In the art of servicing and operating oil or gas wells, it has beenstandard practice to lower tools from a surface vessel along guidelinesinto the well shaft for various purposes such as cleaning wax from theinner walls of the oil pipe, setting chokes, opening and closing gasvalves, etc. In shallow water, divers have been used in combination withsurface vessels, fixed platforms or shore stations to provide the sameservicing function. The amount of servicing that a well may require isprimarily determined by its location and by the impurities found. If,for example, weekly servicing is required for a deep water well, theexpense and time involved in hooking up a surface vessel and performingthe necessary servicing is prohibitive.

Various means have been devised to service these deep wells efficiently.One such method is the TFL (Through the Flowline) method. This methoduses hydraulic pressure to drive a variety of tools through a portion ofthe production tubing. It uses another line called the service line tobypass the production line, during well servicing, to allow a continuedproduct output from the well. The service line can also be utilized tosupply pressure to return the tool up through the production tubing.

A new concept has thus evolved which consists of positioning a welloperating and servicing module, herein after referred to as a module, inclose proximity to a plurality of wells and providing a coupling meanswhich couples the module to the wells. Contained within the module isall the equipment necessary to control, to meter individual wellproduction, to collect the total well production, to collect the totalwell production, to automatically service the wells and to sustain humanlife as required. The use of the TFL method with the module conceptrequires that the bending radius for any linkage between the module andthe wells be relatively large to allow the tool to negotiate the bendwithout jamming. It would, therefore, be highly advantageous to have aself-contained system wherein periodic servicing could be carried onautomatically for each well without having to move or position a surfacevehicle or submersible vehicle into the area each time one of the wellsneeded servicing. It would also be highly desirable to have a quickdisconnect coupling assembly between the module and the wells to allowfor the removal of one tubing loop if rework on one well is required,while the other wells continue producing, or toremove the module if itneeds major repair or if the wells are exhausted and the module could beused for another group of wells. Although the invention will bedescribed in connection with an oil well, it is to be understood thatall equivalent materials such as gas and liquid sulfur will work aswell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment of this invention, amodule capable of being immersed under water is radially positioned froma plurality of underwater oil or gas wells. A substantially horizontalsurface is provided on the module when the module is positioned on theocean bottom. A number of receptacles pass vertically through thishorizontal surface into the interior of the module. A loop of flexibletubing having connectors attached to each end thereof, is aligned witheach receptacle on the module and a receptacle mounted to the well, bymeans of guide pins positioned on the module and the well. Substantiallyrigid members maintain the relative alignment of the flexible tubingsuch that the respective connectors meet with the receptacles on themodule and well. Slight misalignments are corrected for, by limitedmovements of the substantially rigid members. The mating of theconnectors and receptacles is accomplished through the weight of theconnectors, flexible tubing, and rigid alignment assembly. Hydraulic, orother remote control means are provided for locking the connectors tothe receptacles and for unlocking them when the entire assembly is to beremoved for either servicing or attachment to another group of wells.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved apparatus for operating and servicing underwater oil or gaswells.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portablemodule for the protection of automation equipment and for underwaterservicing and operation of wells.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide aself-contained module system which may be moved from one location toanother.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a uniquecoupling arrangement between a module and a plurality of wells.

The aforementioned and other objects of the present invention willbecome more apparent and better understood when taken in conjunctionwith the following description and drawings, throughout which likecharacters indicate like parts, and which drawings form a part of thisapplication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of themodule centrally located and surrounded by a plurality of underwaterwells which are coupled to the module for servicing by means of acoupling assembly;

, FIG 2 is a partially sectioned enlarged view of a portion of theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the section lines 44 ofthe apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. Sis a sectioned view of a portion ofthe apparatus illustrated inFIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectioned view taken along the section lines 6-6 of aportion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. I, a basestructure 10, is positioned on the floor of the Ocean 12. The basestructure may have any desired shape, but, it is generally moreconvenient to have it circular, so that a plurality of well heads 14 maybe positioned uniformly around the circumference, equally spaced from acentral point. Using modern directional drilling methods, the bottom ofeach well which collects the oil or gas can be located in a horizontalprojection far away from the well head. A module 16 is shown loweredinto position substantially on the center of the base structure 10. Themodule is hollow, and conditioned to support life therein. Its mainfunction is to house the equipment necessary for automatic periodicalwell servicing, for separating of petroleum products, for controllingthe flow from the wells and for providing life support for men sent downoccasionally by submarine for servicing of the equipment inside of themodule. A coupling assembly 18 couples selected wells to the module 16.During the lowering operation a plurality of guidelines 19 and 20extended upwards, from the wells and the module respectively, towards asurface vessel (not shown for purposes of clarity) provide alignment forthe coupling assembly 18 as it is lowered from the surface vessel intoplace between the module 16 and the wells 14. In case one of thecoupling assemblies has been damaged, it can be released from well andmodule, raised up to the surface, repaired and lowered down again asdescribed above. If major repair work on the module or its contentsshould be required, all coupling assemblies 18 can be raised up (afterthe valves in well heads 14 are closed). The module and placed nearnewly drilled wells. The guidelines 19 and 20 may be attached anddisconnected from guide pins 50 and 23, respectively, by means of asubmarine 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a more detailed view of the couplingassembly 18. After a well is drilled a conductor pipe 21 sticks upthrough an opening in the baseplate 10. A guide frame 22 with a numberof upright guide pins 23, along with a casing hanger 24, is mounted onand supported by the conductor pipe 21. A lower collet connector 25,which is secured to a valve assembly 26, is guided into position from asurface vehicle initially by the guidelines 19 and finally by the guidepins 23 and secured to the casing hanger 24. Guide sleeves 27, which areadapted to slide onto the guide pins 23, are secured to the lower colletconnector 25 by braces 28. When connector 25 is in place, all linescoming from the well, the production line 33, the service line 34, andthe gas line 35, are checked by valves 29. Valves 29 may be remotelycontrolled through temporary hydraulic connectors, connected between thevalves and the surface vehicle, or between the valves and a hydraulicmodular unit 81 positioned adjacent the oil well but controlled from thesurface. The valves could also be mechanical and operated by thesubmarine manipulator.

The module 16 is comprised of an upper and a lower vertical cylinder 31and 36 respectively, which are thick walled in order to withstand thelarge pressures of deep ocean operation. The lower vertical cylindersteps into the smaller diameter upper cylinder 31 forming at the step asubstantially horizontal surface 32 extending in a ringlikc manneraround the outside diameter of the module. A work platform 51 ispositioned on this step and secured to the module. The inner chambers ofthe module may be conditioned to support life or a completely automaticsystem. The automatic sampling system can be used to determine theoperating quality of the well and provide corrective service to thewells. A combination of the life support capacity along with anautomatic servicing capability may be used. The particular systems forautomatically performing these functions are well within the state ofthe art and would vary from mission to mission, therefore, they are notshown for purposes of clarity. A plurality of vertical connectors 40,having fixed ends, project through the wall of the lower cylinder 30.The upper face of each connector 40 contains a plurality of femalereceptacles (shown by dotted lines) corresponding in number and locationto the male ends 37 which are attached to the detachable connector 41. Anumber of tubing loops 44a, and 44b, (two are shown here) having aradius bend at each end thereof which is directed downward and which isgreat enough to allow for the passage of a well servicing tool andmaterials are fixedly connected at one end to the connector 41 and atthe other end to a Y-spool 45. The number of tubes used will depend uponthe specific needs of the system. The Y-spool 45 is in turn attached tothe valve assembly 26 by an upper collet connector 46. The upper colletconnector 46 is lowered into position, with the coupling assembly 18,and forms a part of the coupling assembly. Guide sleeves 47 are fixed tothe upper collet connector 46 by means of braces 48. The sleeves 47guide the collet assembly and in turn one entire end of the couplingassembly 18 onto the guide pins 23 and the upper portion of the oil wellpipes that are kept with the valve assembly 26. A tree extension 60 isfixed to the Y-spool 45 to support a rotating sleeve 61 which isconstrained by the tree except for rotational motion around the tree. Ahydraulic cylinder 62 is positioned on the tree, near its top, and isprovided with a limited degree of sliding motion. The cylinder 62 islimited in its lower range of travel by the spacer 66 when it bottomsagainst the ledge 38, (FIG. 2) and at the upper end by the collar 91which is fixed to the top of the tree 60. A double linkage 63, moreclearly seen in the FIG. 3 view, is pivotally mounted to the slidingcylinder 62 by means of trunnions 65 and to a second pair of linkages 64by means ofa pine and collar connection 68, (FIG. 4). The dou I blelinkages 64 are connected to the rotating sleeve 61 by means oftrunnions 69 and to the connector 41 by means of a clevis and trunnionassembly 70, more clearly shown in FIG. 4. The length of linkages 63 aresuch that if the cylinder 62 is in its uppermost position the connector41 is entirely disenegaged from the receptacle on the verticalconnectors 40. Means are thus provided for connecting and disconnectingthe coupling assembly from the receptacle at controlled times withoutdisconnecting the connector from the wells. The relative alignmentbetween the connector and receptacle is still maintained even thoughthey are disengaged by guide pins 50 which are affixed to and projectvertically from the platform 51. A pair of guide sleeves 72 are fixedlyattached to the connector 41 by means of braces 71. The angular indexingof connector 41 is controlled by the two sleeves 72.

A connector control pod 49 which is comprised of a lower portion that isfastened in a standard manner to sleeves 47 by suitable braces (notshown) and an upper portion 81 which is connected to sleeves 83 bybraces 84 (FIG. 3 )is held in position by guide pins 23. The control podis used to supply hydraulic power for the upper collet connector 46, thehydraulic cylinder 62, the connector 41, via hydraulic lines A, B, andC, respectively. The control pod is controlled from the surface throughcontrol lines 82. A pod which may be used with this invention ismanufactured by Payne Manufacturing Company, Houston Texas and isdisclosed in their sales brochure on pages 4020 and 4021. The hydrauliccap 90, which fits on the top ofthe tree assembly 60, providesconnections for the drill pipe and hydraulic lines leading up to thebarge, or storage vessel, which is used for the removal or the settingof the well head connections that run from collet connector 25.

. Referring now to FIG. 4, the collet connector 41 is connected to theyoke assembly 70 having slots located in each of its arms 75. Pins 74support the connector within the slots. Within a limited range, theconnector 41 may be rotated around the axis of the pins 74 or back andforth within the limits of the slots 75. The guide sleeves 72, affixedto the connector 41 by the braces 71, control the orientation (indexing)of the connector when the sleeves engage the guide pins 50, aspreviously discussed. Additional fore and aft, or extension, motion isprovided by the shaft 76 which extends from the clevis 73. The shaft canrotate about its axis on bearings 77 which are attached to a housingmember 79, which in turn is attached to the pair of lower linkageelements 64. Aside from the rotational motion, the clevis 73 may bemoved in and out along the axis of the bearings up to the limits of thestop 78. This semifiexible mounting for the connector 41 compensates forany misalignment angles that may occur due to the impositioning of themodule 16 or to the angles of inclination of the wells with respect tothe module.

Referring now to FIG. 5, which is a cutaway view of the hydrauliccylinder 62. The hydraulic cylinder 62 is attached to the spacer 66which also provides a hydraulic seal with the surface of the treeextension 60. A stationary piston 92 fixedly attached to the treeextension at approximately a midway point between the two ends of thecylinder 62. A hydraulic inlet port 93 is provided at one end of thecylinder with second hydraulic inlet port 97 being provided at the otherend. Attached to the upper portion of the cylinder are two double lugs94 which are locked by a sheer pin 95 to lugs 96, which are in turnfixed to a collar 91 that is in turn fixed to the top portion of thetree extension 61). By applying a hydraulic pressure at the hydraulicport 93, the cylinder with trunnion 65 will be forced downward and ifthe downward force overcomes the strength of the shear pin 95, thecylinder will move down until the spacer 66 reaches its lower limit oftravel. When the cylinder moves down, it allows the connector 41 toengage the receptacle 40.

Referring to FIG. 6, it is a sectioned view of a typical colletconnector 46 which may be used with the invention. The locking andunlocking structure of connector 41 is identical to that of connector46, therefore, it is not shown for simplicity. The collet connector isfixedly attached to the Y-spool .5. The lower portion of the Y-spool hasa projecting lip 111 corresponding to a projecting lip l on the valveassembly 26. A plurality of locking cylinders 120 are uniformlypositioned around the lips llllll and lllll. A plurality of locking bars1112 are provided which in the closed position squeeze and seal the twolips together. The piston 121 is actuated through hydraulic ports 1123and 112 1 to either lock or unlock the locking bars. An end cap 122 isfixedly attached to the piston 11211 and to a wedge bar 1114. in theuppermost position, the wedge bar presses against a projection on thelocking bar lll2 disengaging the locking bar from the lips. in the lowerposition, the wedge bar forces the locking bar into engagement with thelips. Collet connectors, whichmay be used with this invention, aredisclosed manufactured by the Cameron Iron Works, Inc. Houston, Texas.

The right side of the H6. shows the collet connector, in locked positionand the left side in the unlocked position. The locked and unlocked viewis only for the purposes of clarity, in actuality the connector iseither all open or all closed.

OPERATING SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION After the well is established with awell head, the lower collet connector 25 and the valve assembly 26 issecured in place and the module 116 is secured to the base 110. Theguidelines are connected via the detachable connectors lltll to theguide pins50, by a submarine llllll, which then moves out from thecenter of the module to the wells and positions the guidelines 19 ontothe guide pins 23 via the connectors lltlll. The innermost lines 2 1)should be attached'first to avoid fouling of the propeller and controlsystems of the submarine. With the hydraulic cylinder 62 locked in itsupper position by the shear pin 95, the well head, including the colletconnector 46 is lowered from the vessel, and guided by lines 19 to theguide pins 23, while at the same time the detachable connector 41follows the guide line 20 to the guide pins 50. The upper part of theconnector control pod 31 is attached to the lower part 80 and both areguided down along lines 2 0 along with hose lines 82 connected to thesurface ship, until the sleeve assemblies 83 butt against the sleeveassemblies 417. The collet connector 46 is then locked in place from thesurface ship under hydraulic control by way of pod 43. Consequently, thehydraulic cylinder 62 is pressurized and, after building up suf ficientforce for shearing the pin 95, the cylinder moves down to the engagingposition. In this stage, the cylinder force plus the weight of thedetachable connector end 41, along with the weight of the connectorlinkages, produces the force necessary for engagement of the connector4i with fixed connector 40. The operation of cylinder 62 and theengagement of connectors 46 and 41 are actuated by hydraulic pressurefrom the ship via the connector control pod 49. After pressure testing,the upper part 811 of the connector control pod $9 is removed along withthe hydraulic lines 82 and sleeves 83, brace 84}, and guidelines 19. Thedrill pipe and hydraulic lines can at this time be disconnected from thehydraulic cap 90. With the flexible tubes 441a and Mlb, now in place, aservicing tool such as a dewaxer may be inserted into the productionline 33 from within the satellite 16 through the tubing 44a, in order toremove the coupling assembly 118 it is only necessary to reverse theabove procedure.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferredembodiment of the present invention, it will be manifest that manychanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theessential spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, in theannexed claims, to cover all such changes and modifications as may fallwithin the true scope of the invention.

We claim:

11. In combination:

an underwater well operating and servicing module adapted to bepositioned in proximity to at least one underwater well;

a flexible tubing assembly having (ends) tubes with the respectiveopenings extending in the same direction;

a module connector disposed at one end of said tubing assembly and awell connector disposed at the other end, first means disposed on saidmodule to receive said module connector, and

third means on said tubing assembly for adjusting the spacing betweensaid first and second means.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said third means iscomprised of;

a. a tree member extending vertically from said well connector whichconnects to the receptacle on said well;

b. a first linkage member extending between said connectors;

c. a sleeve attached to said tree member a distance from said wellconnector; and

d. a second linkage member extending from said sleeve to said moduleconnector.

3. The invention according to claim 2 and further comprising:

a. a means for moving said sleeve up and down on said tree member tocontrol the engagement of said module connector'with said first means.

4. The invention according to claim 2 and further comprisa. a yoke meansinterposed between said module connector and both of said linkagemembers to provide said module connector with limited degrees ofmovement to compensate for slight misalignments between said moduleconnector and said first means.

5. The invention according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a. a guide means positioned on said module and said well to guide saidflexible tubing assembly with said connector, from the surface of saidwater to said first means the receptacles on said module and said secondmeans on said respective well, said guide means also indexing saidconnectors to said first and second means.

6. The invention according to claim 5 and further comprising lockingmeans attached to said connectors for locking and unlocking saidconnector from said first and second means.

7. The invention according to claim 11 and further comprising:

A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wells comprising:

a well head on each of said wells and positioned substantially in acircle:

a portable well operating and servicing module positioned at the centerof said well heads, said module being hollo and conditioned to supportlife; number of flexible coupling assembly means each connecting saidmodule to a respective well head, said coupling assembly means beinghollow to allow access to said wells from said module; and

guide means affixed to said well heads and said module and extending tothe surface of said water guide each of said coupling assembly meansinto position on said module and said respective well head.

3. A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wells positionedalong substantially equal radii from a central position comprising incombination:

a. an operating and servicing module comprised of two hollow cylindricalsections, the lower one of which has a greater diameter than the upper,with the juncture of said sections forming a substantially horizontalsurface, said module positioned at said central position;

b. a plurality of receptacles projecting upward through said horizontalsurface from within said module;

c. a plurality of first means corresponding in number to said pluralityof wells affixed to said wells respectively;

d. a plurality of second means including at least one flexible tubing,the ends of which are directed downward and a pair of connectors, one ofsaid connectors communicating with one end of said tubing and the otherof said connectors communicating with the other end of said tubing,

e. guide means affixed to said module and adapted to be affixed to saidwells for guiding said pair of connectors on each of said second meansfrom the surface of said water to one of said respective receptacles andone of said respective first means.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein the bend in said tubing islarge enough to allow for the passage of a tool from said module to saidwells and back.

10. The invention according to claim 9 and further comprising:

substantially rigid linkage connected between said connec tors, formaintaining the spacing of said connectors to correspond to the spacingbetween a respective one of said receptacles on said module and arespective one of said first means.

11. The invention according to claim 10 and further com prising:

a. locking means attached to said connectors for locking and unlockingsaid connectors to and from said respective receptacle and saidrespective first means.

12. A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wells positionedalong substantially equal radii from a central position comprising incombination:

an operating and servicing module comprised of two hollow sections thelower one of which has a greater diameter than the upper, with thejuncture of said sections forming a substantially horizontal surface,said module positioned at said central position;

b. a plurality of receptacles projecting upward through saidsubstantially horizontal surfaces from within said module;

c. first means connected to each of said wells to be serviced;

d. at least one Y-spool member having at least one arm connected to oneof said first means for allowing access to said well from at least twodirections;

f. a tree extension member projecting upward from and connected to saidone arm of said Y-spool;

g. a module connector connected to each of said receptacles; and

h. at least one substantially flexible tubing having the ends thereofdiverted downward connecting said module connector to one of the otherarms of said Y-spool for allowing access to said well from said module.

13. The invention according to claim 12 and further comprisingsubstantially rigid linkage means connected between said tree extensionand said module connector for maintaining the spacing between said onearm and said connector approximately equal to the spacing between arespective one of said receptacles and a respective one of said firstmeans.

14. The invention according to claim 13 and further comprising:

a. a yoke means interposed between said module connector and saidlinkage members to provide said module connector with limited degrees ofmovement to compensate for slight misalignments between said first meansand said respective receptacle.

15. The invention according to claim 13 wherein said substantially rigidlinkage means is comprised of:

a. substantially horizontal linkage member extending from said treemember to said module connector;

b. a sleeve attached to said tree member a distance from said horizontallinkage member;

c. a rigid linkage member, having a length greater than said horizontalmember, extending from said module connector and connected to saidsleeve; and

d. hydraulic means connected to said sleeve to move said sleeve up anddown on said tree, and in turn moving said module connector into and outof engagement with said module connector into and out of engagement withsaid module receptacle.

16. The invention according to claim 15 and further comprising:

a. means for moving said sleeve up and down on said tree member tocontrol the engagement of said module connector with said modulereceptacle.

23533 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE (IETIFECATE OF CGRRECTION Patent NO.,589,M+l Dated June 29, 1971 Inventor) Walter Brown and Warren S.Messenger It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

COLUMN 1:

In line 12, following "operating" and before "oil" insert -underwater--.

COLUMN 2:

In line 36, "sectional should be --sectioned--.

COLUMV 6:

In line 10 "which connects to the receptacle on said well" should bedeleted,

In lines 33 and 3 the receptacles" should be deleted.

In lines MO and ll "The invention according to claim ll and thercomprisingz" should be deleted.

COLUMN T:

line 2 "a." should precede "an operating".

COLUMN 8:

Line 3l module connector into and out oi engagement with said" isduplication of the previous line and should be deleted.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of February 19?.2.

{SEAL} Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETC HER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSGHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. In combination: an underwater well operating and servicing moduleadapted to be positioned in proximity to at least one underwater well; aflexible tubing assembly having (ends) tubes with the respectiveopenings extending in the same direction; a module connector disposed atone end of said tubing assembly and a well connector disposed at theother end, first means disposed on said module to receive said moduleconnector, and third means on said tubing assembly for adjusting thespacing between said first and second means.
 2. The invention accordingto claim 1 wherein said third means is comprised of; a. a tree memberextending vertically from said well connector which connects to thereceptacle on said well; b. a first linkage member extending betweensaid connectors; c. a sleeve attached to said tree member a distancefrom said well connector; and d. a second linkage member extending fromsaid sleeve to said module connector.
 3. The invention according toclaim 2 and further comprising: a. a means for moving said sleeve up anddown on said tree member to control the engagement of said moduleconnector with said first means.
 4. The invention according to claim 2and further comprising: a. a yoke means interposed between saId moduleconnector and both of said linkage members to provide said moduleconnector with limited degrees of movement to compensate for slightmisalignments between said module connector and said first means.
 5. Theinvention according to claim 1 and further comprising: a. a guide meanspositioned on said module and said well to guide said flexible tubingassembly with said connector, from the surface of said water to saidfirst means the receptacles on said module and said second means on saidrespective well, said guide means also indexing said connectors to saidfirst and second means.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 andfurther comprising locking means attached to said connectors for lockingand unlocking said connector from said first and second means.
 7. Theinvention according to claim 11 and further comprising: A system forservicing a plurality of deep water wells comprising: a well head oneach of said wells and positioned substantially in a circle: a portablewell operating and servicing module positioned at the center of saidwell heads, said module being hollow and conditioned to support life; anumber of flexible coupling assembly means each connecting said moduleto a respective well head, said coupling assembly means being hollow toallow access to said wells from said module; and guide means affixed tosaid well heads and said module and extending to the surface of saidwater guide each of said coupling assembly means into position on saidmodule and said respective well head.
 8. A system for servicing aplurality of deep water wells positioned along substantially equal radiifrom a central position comprising in combination: a. an operating andservicing module comprised of two hollow cylindrical sections, the lowerone of which has a greater diameter than the upper, with the juncture ofsaid sections forming a substantially horizontal surface, said modulepositioned at said central position; b. a plurality of receptaclesprojecting upward through said horizontal surface from within saidmodule; c. a plurality of first means corresponding in number to saidplurality of wells affixed to said wells respectively; d. a plurality ofsecond means including at least one flexible tubing, the ends of whichare directed downward and a pair of connectors, one of said connectorscommunicating with one end of said tubing and the other of saidconnectors communicating with the other end of said tubing, e. guidemeans affixed to said module and adapted to be affixed to said wells forguiding said pair of connectors on each of said second means from thesurface of said water to one of said respective receptacles and one ofsaid respective first means.
 9. The invention according to claim 8wherein the bend in said tubing is large enough to allow for the passageof a tool from said module to said wells and back.
 10. The inventionaccording to claim 9 and further comprising: substantially rigid linkageconnected between said connectors, for maintaining the spacing of saidconnectors to correspond to the spacing between a respective one of saidreceptacles on said module and a respective one of said first means. 11.The invention according to claim 10 and further comprising: a. lockingmeans attached to said connectors for locking and unlocking saidconnectors to and from said respective receptacle and said respectivefirst means.
 12. A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wellspositioned along substantially equal radii from a central positioncomprising in combination: an operating and servicing module comprisedof two hollow sections the lower one of which has a greater diameterthan the upper, with the juncture of said sections forming asubstantially horizontal surface, said module positioned at said centralposition; b. a plurality of receptacles projecting upward through saidsubstantially horizontal surfaces from within said module; c. firstmeans connected to each of said wells to be serviced; d. at least oneY-spool member having at least one arm connected to one of said firstmeans for allowing access to said well from at least two directions; f.a tree extension member projecting upward from and connected to said onearm of said Y-spool; g. a module connector connected to each of saidreceptacles; and h. at least one substantially flexible tubing havingthe ends thereof diverted downward connecting said module connector toone of the other arms of said Y-spool for allowing access to said wellfrom said module.
 13. The invention according to claim 12 and furthercomprising substantially rigid linkage means connected between said treeextension and said module connector for maintaining the spacing betweensaid one arm and said connector approximately equal to the spacingbetween a respective one of said receptacles and a respective one ofsaid first means.
 14. The invention according to claim 13 and furthercomprising: a. a yoke means interposed between said module connector andsaid linkage members to provide said module connector with limiteddegrees of movement to compensate for slight misalignments between saidfirst means and said respective receptacle.
 15. The invention accordingto claim 13 wherein said substantially rigid linkage means is comprisedof: a. substantially horizontal linkage member extending from said treemember to said module connector; b. a sleeve attached to said treemember a distance from said horizontal linkage member; c. a rigidlinkage member, having a length greater than said horizontal member,extending from said module connector and connected to said sleeve; andd. hydraulic means connected to said sleeve to move said sleeve up anddown on said tree, and in turn moving said module connector into and outof engagement with said module connector into and out of engagement withsaid module receptacle.
 16. The invention according to claim 15 andfurther comprising: a. means for moving said sleeve up and down on saidtree member to control the engagement of said module connector with saidmodule receptacle.